This project, "Protest as a Democracy Test (ProTest)", explores the relationship between protest and democracy in a time of increasing global democratic decline. We aim to understand how changes in democracy are influencing the way people protest. Our research will look at protest culture, specifically the types of protests used and how these protests are communicated. We will examine how these aspects of protest are changing due to shifts in democracy in different countries.

To do this, we will study the roles of:

• People who organise and take part in protests, looking at their actions and how they present their messages.

• Governments and authorities, and the methods they use to respond to protests.

• News media and online platforms, and how they shape our understanding of protests.

• Ordinary citizens from different age groups, to understand their views on protest.

We will compare protest across different countries and types of democratic systems. Ultimately, this project aims to provide new insights into how protest works and its impact on democracy, to encourage discussion between different groups, and to suggest ways to strengthen democratic processes.